Kentucky leads US high school graduation rates, Business Insider data shows

Kentucky leads the United States with a 93.60% high school graduation rate, while Alaska reports the lowest at 79.87%, according to data compiled by Business Insider. These figures, primarily reflecting the 2024-2025 school year, highlight the variation in academic outcomes across the country, with the exception of Oklahoma, which relies on data from the 2023-2024 school year.

Measuring Academic Success

Graduation rates serve as a primary metric for local and state governments to monitor educational progress, though the data is complex to define. Most states utilize the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate formula, which tracks the percentage of first-time ninth graders who earn a regular high school diploma within a four-year window. This calculation is adjusted to account for students who transfer into or out of a school system, as well as those who emigrate or pass away.

Because diploma requirements, including specific course and testing mandates, vary by state, a student’s likelihood of graduating on time can differ significantly depending on where they attend school. To provide further context for these rankings, researchers also analyzed public school spending per pupil and median household income for each state.

The Economic Value of a Diploma

Beyond academic metrics, the completion of high school is tied to tangible financial outcomes. Census data indicates that US adults aged 25 or older who possess a high school degree earn, on average, $8,216 more per year than those without one.

Alaska Ranks Lowest with High Spending

The ranking reveals a wide spread of outcomes across the nation:

• Alaska (50th): 79.87% graduation rate; $21,004 per-pupil spending.
• Arizona (49th): 80.00% graduation rate; $12,003 per-pupil spending.
• New Mexico (48th): 80.63% graduation rate; $17,664 per-pupil spending.
• Vermont (47th): 82.00% graduation rate; $28,818 per-pupil spending.
• Oklahoma (46th): 82.20% graduation rate; $12,162 per-pupil spending.
• Idaho (45th): 82.50% graduation rate; $11,060 per-pupil spending.
• Washington (44th): 82.64% graduation rate; $18,564 per-pupil spending.
• Oregon (43rd): 83.00% graduation rate; $18,083 per-pupil spending.
• Wyoming (42nd): 83.10% graduation rate; $20,521 per-pupil spending.
• North Dakota (41st): 84.00% graduation rate; $17,102 per-pupil spending.
• Michigan (40th): 84.01% graduation rate; $18,314 per-pupil spending.
• Minnesota (39th): 84.90% graduation rate; $17,098 per-pupil spending.